The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-06

much as the doctrines, principles, practices
or performances, support vir.ue and in
| crease morality, and are not inconsistent
with or repugnant to the Const tuition of
the United States. or of this State, and are
founded in the revelations of the Lord.
| SEC 4-ARd be ID further ordained: That
said church shaIl keep at every fully organ
! lied branch or stake, registry of marriages,
births and deaths, free for the inspection of
| all members and for their benefit.
SEC. 5. and be it further ordained: That
the presidency OF said church shall fill all
! vacancies OF the assistant trustees, neces-
sary to be filed, until superseded by the
conference of said church
| lHSEC. 6. Be IL further ordained: That no as
sistant trustee or trustees snail transact
business in relation to buying, selling, or
otherwise dispoSing Of church property,
| without the consent or approval OF the
trustee-in-trust of said church.
The purposes of the corporation as
indicated by the powers confer ed upon
IL by this charter, are numerous and
varied. Some of them, 1t is true, are
expressed in vague terms, but the cap
acity is granted to act in various ways,
and to make laws and regulations with
respect to very many subjects. The
corporation is confined to no particular
purpose. No precedent can be found
for comforting upon private corpora
ton such a variety of capacities; some
of them, it is believed, are above the
reach OF human laws.
The iawmaking power of TIE State,
| for the purpose Of better government
and for the public good enacts
charters comforting q portion of the
powers entrusted to it, upon the people
of city or village; others authorizing
charitable, educational, Or religious in
| Stltutions, and others providing for
| ITO
artificial agencies are provided in order
| that the people may more conveniently
and successfully Cooperate for the
good Of all and for the advancement Of
! human happiness.
| The charter Of corporation should
always specify the purpose for which
| the corporation is organized and
powers adapted to that purpose should
| be granted. If the corporation is to be
a public one powers adapted 10 the
regulations Of conduct and to public
purposes should be given, with
| such incidental capacity to do business
as may be essential to such an organiza-
! ton, aud no more. 1t should never be
allowed to engage in general business.
| If s. charter authorizes The organization
of a company to acquire and operate q
railroad, the power to engage in agri-
culture should not be granted also So,
| if WOrshiping congregation should
! desire to purchase a lot of ground end
! to build a church and parsonage, and
to employ minister, the charter should
authorize the corporation 10 do so out
| should not confer upon such an organ
| iZatIon powers adapted to municipal
| government, or TO the purchase and
| sale OF real and personal property with
nt1f limit or "a
engage in general business.
1t is an accepted doctrine that the
common veal demands that private
corporations should be limited each to
particular and specified purpose; even
when so limited. they often acquire
great influence. If the Legislature, by
the inStrumentality of the same char
ter, may authorize the organization of a
company for all purposes, If the COM
pany may enter upon every field OF en-
teryrise and engage in every pursuit
and may also control human conduct
By means Of the powers Of a municipal
government, and at the same time may
possess those OF q religions corporation,
such corporate Influence will be mani
tested as never before.
The charter OF the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints is most
extraordinary in the extent of the an-
thOrity it assumes to confer upon, and
in the number, the variety, and the
scope of the power it places in the hands
of religious body. It declares, in eff
feet, that all the Mormon people, who
at the time of its enactment were, or
who might afterwards become residents
OF the Territory, are a body corporate
with perpetual succession.
This OF 4hn ~ 8
organization embraced nine-tenths OF
the inhabitants of the TerritOry-msnv
thousands OF people. at the present
time it includes probably more than
100, 900, and If, II the future, people
should continue to be gathered in from
all quarters of the globe as they have in
the past, their number at no distant
day viii reach quarter of & million.
The corporation extends over the
whole Territory, including numerous
congre cations in various localities. At
the head of this corporate body, &C
cCTding to The faith professed, is
q seer and reVeIator, who re-
ceiYes in revelation the will
OF the Infinite God concern
ng the duty of man to himself,
to his felow-beings, to society t. human
government and to God. In subordi-
nation to this head are vast number
of officers of various kinds and descrip-
lions, comprising a most minute and
complete organization. The people
comprising this organization claim to
be directed and led by Inspiration that
is above all human wi dom, and subject
to power above all municipal govern
ment-above all ''man.made laws"
These facts belong 20 history, therefore
we have r. en- notice of them
Upon such 3 religious organization as
this, unusual and extraordinary powers
are conferred by this charter, such as
the right of acquiring and disposing of
real and personal property without
limit and with exemption from taxation;
the authority TO solemnize marriage &C
cordIng to revelation; the continuous
and Inherent authority to make laws
and "criterions" for the good order,
safety, government, convenience, com
fort and control of the church, which
Is equivalent to saying the Mormon
people; also for the punishment or for
giveness of all offenses relative to
membership according to church
covenants; that is to say, the